Ulama Programme held at Darul Ihsan offices

Welcome by Mufti Zubair Bayat Sahib (Hafizahaullah)

We have a very special guest today Hazrat Qari Hanif Jalandhari (Hafizahullah). In terms of Hazrat's family background - Hazrat is the grandson of Hazrat Maulana Khair Muhammad Jalandhari (Rahimahullah) who was the Khalifa of Hakeemul Ummat Hazrat Maulana Ashraf Ali Thanwi (Rahumahullah) and the founder of Khair ul Madaris in Multan, Pakistan which has some 5000 students, both males and females.

Presently Hazrat is the Rector and Shaikh ul Hadith of Khair ul Madaris and also Secretary of Wifaqul Madaris which has 23000 Madrasas as members. The Wifaq Board was started in 1959 with 5 Madrasas, today it has 50 000 students writing the national exam and 1.5 million qualifying students. Hazrat is also a member of Board for Contemporary Issues and serves in many other forums and organisations. Hazrat has gained the admiration of his seniors from a young age and through their confidence in him, he has been appointed to prominent positions.

"Allah conferred a great favour on the believers when He sent among them a messenger from among themselves, reciting unto them the Signs of Allah, purifying them, and teaching them the Book (Qur'an) and Wisdom, while, before that, they had been in manifest error".

Respected Ulama, today, the 10 Jan 2019 in Darul Ihsan Centre, Durban I have been given this opportunity by my dear friend Mufti Zubair Bayat with whom I share a long and special relationship.

I thank all the honourable Ulama for your presence and time, especially Maulana Professor Salman Nadwi Saheb for his esteemed presence, especially since my grandfather and his father had close relationship (both being Khulafa of Hakeemul Ummat Maulana Thanwi R). I also thank Mufti Faiyaz Saheb as my host and companion on this journey.

I am enjoying an extremely special and spiritual feeling by being here at Darul Ihsan in the company of Ulama and elders. As a student i will revise some lessons learnt, please correct me if i err.

The verse recited outlines the purpose and mission of Prophethood. The Hadith refers to Ulama as Warasatul Ambiya, not Warasatun Nabi (Sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) - though this too would have been correct and also a high position. By stating Ulama as heirs of all Ambiya it alludes to status and rank of the Ulama.

Explaining the Hadith, Al Ulama warasatul Ambiya, my Ustaz mentioned, this Ummat will undergo and deal with the challenges of all Ambiya and its Ulama will be tried with all these challenges collectively. In my humble opinion attribution to all Messengers is to assert that Ulama of this Ummat are responsible for the guidance of all faiths who have association with all previous messengers. So whilst the position is great so are the responsibility and challenges.

The one who is made an heir is privileged but has to fulfill all his responsibilities. The 4 objectives of Prophethood mentioned in the ayat were fulfilled by Nabi (Sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) "Ala wajhil Kamal", in the most perfect and superb manner, therefore the ayat Alyouma akmaltu lakum - today i have perfected your Deen through the perfect example of Nabi (Sallallahu alayhi wa sallam). All the works of Deen were developed, established and completed in the highest most perfect manner by Nabi (Sallallahu alayhi wa sallam). This was and can only be achived by the personality of Nabi (Sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) as he was created in perfection for perfection.

With the passage of time, these works of Deen have now been divided into various departments for their preservation and continuity, as it is very difficult for a single individual to accomplish all the avenues of Deeni service and responsibility. Nabi (Sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) had kamal in kamal, was perfect in his perfection.

For the purposes of understanding, as an analogy if other Ambiya were Sabir (patient) then Nabi (Sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) was Asbar (perfection of patience), similarly other Ambiya were Shakir, Nabi (Sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) was Ashkar (perfection in gratitude) - and in that manner in all other attributes Nabi (Sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) reached and displayed perfection.

This perfection was distributed among Sahaba and Ummat as inheritance. So we find the Sahabah and our pious elders specialized in and dedicated their lives to a specific services of Deen. Among Sahaba, the Khulafa Rashideen and other Sahaba had specialized in specific aspects of Deeni activity. Different individuals were identified to specialise in different areas and aspects of Deeni service. Hazrat Abu Bakr was Arhamu Ummati (paragon of mercy), Ali RA was Aqdaahum (specialist in Qadha and justice). Other Sahaba specialized in language, Qiraat, economics and other such fields of service.

My Honorable teacher - Qari Raheem Baksh R

Hazrat Qari Raheem Baksh taught Qiraat and, Quran for 40 long years in Khair ul Madaris. He had specialised in and dedicated his life to this field. He knew the books of Qiraat so well that he use to teach from memory. He was student Qari Fatah Muhammad Sb R and had large a contingent of students. He would arrive for lessons half hour before the actual class time by bicycle - sometimes it would be raining yet he was still on time, whilst students would be late.

If he would go on Umrah or Hajj, he would bring his luggage to the Madrasa, teach his lesson and leave from the classroom to the station or airport. Similalry, if he returned from journey during duty time he would go to Madrasa first, teach a lesson and leave for home at the end of the day. Hazrat use to make dua for every student by taking his name.

Dedication of Ulama in different fields

Some Ulama taught Qur'an Tafseer, or Hadith their entire life till their last breath. Some spent their life in Tazkiya (spiritul guidance) and established the aspects of pactical implementation in the lives of seekers through their efforts. The word Khanqah according to Hazrat Hakiml Ummat Ml Thanwi R who was a Mujaddid and Mujtahid of Tasawwuf the word Khanqah is a persian word "khana gah" meaning small rooms, where people are made to sit in Zikr, meditation and learn how to remember and love Allah Ta'ala.

What is Tazkiyah - What is Tasawwuf ? If we closely study the first 3 aspects of the ayat we find that it relates to ilm and knowledge - from the point of wayuzakkeehim is to bring into action that knowledge acquired. The purpose of acquiring knowledge is to practice, and to effectively practice on knowlege is known as Tazkiya.

Similar to Fiqh, in Tasawwuf, different methodologies are employed to acquire the objective. The Mashaikh engage their seekers in Zikr, meditation, seclusion, These strategies and methods are not the objective, rather they assist in acquiring the objective.

Therefore we find , the qualities and specialities that Nabi (Sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) developed in khalwa (seclusion) were witnessed and exposed in jalwat (his engagement with people), Whilst for Nabi (Sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) there was no need for mujahadah, these aspects were undertaken to teach and convey their benefits.

One glance of Nabi (Sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) was sufficient for the reformation and guidance of a person. There are 3 views of who a Sahabi is,

1. Spent long time in company of Nabi (Sallallahu alayhi wa sallam)

2. Saw once only, will get title of Sahabi but not position

3. Even a single moment of Nabi (Sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) company, he would qualify to get the title and position of a Sahabi. This is view of Bukhari and accepted view of scholars.

Conclusion

Masha Allah, I believe that here at Darul Ihsan all 4 efforts of Deen are taking place. The explanation of Tasawwuf given in Aap Beeti given by Hazrat Shaykh Zakariyya Rahimahullah is that its begining point is Ikhlas (sincerity) and its highest point is Ihsan (to be conscious of Allah's presence as though one sees Him). Allah Ta'ala had granted Shaykh Zakariyya Rahimahullah great insight and knowledge. There are many finder aspects of Bukhari Sahreef that are not found inthe earlier and prominent commentaries, one will find in the writings of Hazrat Shaykh R.

On one occasion a seeker of informed Dr Abdul Hayy Arifi R that he had achieved Ihsan. Dr Saheb asked him to explain, he said that in all his Salaah and Zikr he is fully conscious of Allah. Dr Abdul Hayy then asked him what about when with the family, or in the bazaar or when not in the Masjid, do you enjoy the same state of Ihsan. From this the seeker understood that Ihsan means to establish the state of consciousness in every moment of ones life.

may Allah Ta'ala accpet the is sitting and the Ulama who are present and grant all acceptance.